Sheffield LIVE: “No need to panic” as cases of Indian variant of Covid confirmed in Sheffield
and live on Freeview channel 276
Welcome to The Star’s live blog on Wednesday May 19 where you will be able to find a round-up of the latest coronavirus news and the biggest Sheffield news stories of the day.
Sheffield LIVE:
Key Events
- A third of people in Sheffield have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, figures reveal
- Scientists say a new Covid variant has been reported in Sheffield
- Diana’s sons deliver scathing criticism of BBC following Dyson inquiry findings
Good morning! This is the Sheffield Star front page on Thursday, May 20.
Today’s Sheffield Star front page: “Labour clings on to leadership as Lib Dems say no"
'Covid marshals' to carry out 10,000 home checks to ensure amber list travellers self-isolate
'Covid marshals' to carry out 10,000 home checks to ensure amber list travellers self-isolate
Checks on up to 10,000 homes a day will be carried out to make sure those returning to the UK are quarantining after trips abroad.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the vast majority of coronavirus cases were in younger and unvaccinated people.
He told a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday: “We are seeing the vast majority of cases, both of the existing variant and of the B1617.2 variant, amongst younger groups and unvaccinated people.
“On the one hand hand that is actually a good sign as it implies the vaccine is working effectively, but obviously we don’t want to see a huge increase in the number of cases everywhere.
“We have said all along that we expect some increase in cases, of course, younger people, who are much more likely to be those yet to be vaccinated, are much less affected in terms of hospitalisations and deaths, and that core fact about this virus underpins the strategy and road map we have set out.”
Matt Hancock said it was up to the public to prevent the Indian variant from blocking the country’s progress against coronavirus.
The Health Secretary told a press briefing on Wednesday: “This is on all of us again.
“We are masters of our fate.
“By taking the test in one of these areas (where there is surge testing), by coming forward and getting vaccinated, by behaving with caution – and we all know the things we need to do, especially outside is safer than inside, wearing masks – we can get this under control.
“But, again, it is something for us to do as a community, and in particular in the areas where we are seeing a faster rise.”
England’s deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam advised people in Covid hotspots to “think carefully” about using the new freedoms they have this week.
When asked at a Downing Street briefing on Wednesday if he would advise people in areas such as Bolton with high coronavirus rates against taking advantage of new freedoms, he said: “I would advise the residents in those areas to think very carefully about the freedoms they have, weigh up the risks and be very cautious.
“It is possible to do something outside, better to do it outside. If it is possible to do something with smaller numbers, with people you know rather than multiple new contacts, it’s better to do that. Take it steady.
“The Government has given people freedoms to start to make these judgments for themselves and I understand that we can’t live for years and years on end with rules, people will have to learn to manage these risks from Covid for themselves because this is not going to go away in the short term, medium term and probably the long term.”
Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said the battle against the Indian variant was “not a game lost”.
The expert told a Downing Street press conference: “We are in a completely different place to where we were last year – our genomics testing is probably the best in the world.
“With that precise testing, we can follow up chains of transmission and undertake very enhanced contact tracing, so people are using shoe leather to go door-to-door, working in these areas to support individuals.”
She added that people were being financially supported to help them to self-isolate where necessary.
“It is not a game lost at all, it is very much one to fight and there are high resources and a huge amount of effort, particularly from the public, in all of these areas, and we should continue to do that,” Dr Harries said.
The Health Secretary said almost 14,000 vaccinations had been given in Bolton and Blackburn since Friday and more than 26,000 have been given in the past week – the highest weekly total in the two areas.
“When you get the call, get the jab,” Matt Hancock urged the public during a Downing Street press conference.
He said the surge testing “playbook” being used in the North West areas had worked in south London when tackling the South African variant.
The Cabinet minister said monitoring travel patterns and analysis of waste water in 70% of the country had helped identify where variants are and also where they are at risk of spreading to.
“We can spot the virus and variants in the water, and that can help us identify communities where there is spread,” he added, with new surge testing taking place as a result in places such as Bedford and Burnley.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the UK had probably done more than any other nation to vaccinate the world’s poorest against coronavirus.
He told a Downing Street press briefing on Wednesday that of the almost 1.5 billion vaccine doses given worldwide, more than 400 million of them were the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab.
Mr Hancock said it had been delivered in 160 countries and two-thirds of the doses had been given to people in low and middle-income countries.
He added: “We have donated over half-a-billion pounds to Covax which has now delivered life-saving Covid-19 vaccinations in 120 countries and territories.
“But, over and above our cash commitment the UK has probably done more than any other nation to help vaccinate the world’s poorest and that’s thanks to the gift to the world of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine which is available at cost.
“It is something every British taxpayer has had a part supporting and everyone in this United Kingdom should be incredibly proud of it.”
Scientists will know more about the transmissibility of the new Indian variant by next week, deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam has said.
He told the Downing Street press conference: “I think scientists are sure that this virus is more transmissible than the strain that it is beginning to replace, which is the old Kent B.117 strain.
“The million dollar question is how much more transmissible – we don’t have that yet.
“We have a credible range that goes from a few percent more transmissible through to 50% more transmissible – I think most people feel it is going to be somewhere in the middle… but it is just too early.
“The best estimate that I can give you is that the data will begin to firm up some time next week and I think next week will be the first time when we have a ranging shot at what the transmissibility increase is.
“And that will then feed into models that will help us understand how this looks in terms of the future prospects in terms of resurgent disease, and from there, ministers will be able to make further decisions.”
He added the transmission of the new variant is “not inevitable” and it can be slowed down through “cautious behaviour”.
Matt Hancock said the emergence of the Indian variant meant it was “even more important” for people to get vaccinated.
The Health Secretary told a press briefing: “As I’ve reported to the House of Commons, there are now 2,967 cases known of this variant in the UK and we are determined to do all that we can to ensure this new variant doesn’t put our recovery at risk.
“We’ve acted fast to guard the gains that we have made together.
“We now have an incredibly sensitive biosecurity surveillance system here in the UK … this system spotted the cases in Bolton and in Blackburn early and, through surge testing and increased vaccination, we’re throwing everything at it there.
“The weekly case data in Bolton is now 283 per 100,00 and it doubled in the last week.
“There are now 25 people in Bolton Hospital with Covid – the majority are unvaccinated, nearly 90% have not yet had two vaccines.
“This shows the importance of getting vaccinated, not once but twice.”